"Great Minds Read a Lot: How Humans Grew Acorn Brains"

"Great Minds Read a Lot: How Humans Grew Acorn Brains"

The late great Steve Jobs once said, "Creativity is just connecting things." In these few words, he encapsulated the essence of how people become smarter over time - by connecting existing experiences to synthesize new ideas. And one of the most powerful tools for making these connections is reading.

But while our capacity for intellectual growth is evident, our response to long-term crises has been less exemplary. Take the climate emergency, for example. Despite its already devastating impacts and the impending threats it poses, our actions have been painfully slow. This raises the question: why are we so prone to prioritizing instant rewards and immediate gratification over long-term planning?

The answer lies in our neuroanatomy. We possess what scientists refer to as the "Marshmallow Brain," an ancient part of our brain that drives us towards instant gratification. This part of our brain, which evolved around 80 million years ago, focuses our minds on immediate rewards. However, alongside this ancient brain, we also possess a more recent addition - the "Acorn Brain."

The Acorn Brain is located in the frontal lobe, just above our eyes, particularly in an area known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This part of our brain, which is a mere two million years old, endows us with the remarkable ability to think, plan, and strategize over long timeframes. It is this unrivaled cognitive ability that we must tap into if we are to tackle long-term challenges like the ecological crisis.

The human capacity to think long term is truly one of our brain's most stunning innovations. And evolutionary psychologists and archaeologists offer various explanations for how our brains evolved to possess this remarkable cognitive ability. One such explanation is the concept of "wayfinding." Over millions of years, our protohuman ancestors developed the capacity to navigate and orient themselves in physical space. This skill was crucial for their hunting, foraging, and shelter-seeking expeditions.

Another factor that contributed to the development of our long-term brains is what scientists refer to as the "grandmother effect." Research has shown that the presence of grandparents, particularly maternal grandmothers, reduces infant and child mortality rates. Older post-reproductive females provide vital childcare, knowledge, and other forms of support that increase the survival chances of the young. This nurturing and supportive environment, built on relationships of trust and reciprocity, emphasizes the importance of thinking and planning for the future.

Lastly, our genius for toolmaking played a significant role in the evolution of our long-term brains. As our brains grew and we developed the ability to make complex tools, we also developed the capacity to plan and execute complex sequences of actions. This ability to plan for making tools enabled us to plan other forward-looking actions with long time horizons, such as crop rotation or building monumental structures like pyramids.

So, how can we tap into our Acorn Brains and overcome our Marshmallow Brains' immediate gratification tendencies? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Cultivate long-term thinking: Make a conscious effort to think beyond immediate rewards and consider the long-term consequences of your actions. Set goals and create plans that extend beyond the present moment.

2. Surround yourself with the right influences: Surround yourself with individuals who prioritize long-term thinking and planning. Seek out mentors and role models who exemplify the ability to delay gratification and make decisions with the future in mind.

3. Practice self-discipline: Develop self-discipline by challenging yourself to resist instant rewards and instead focus on long-term goals. Engage in activities that require delayed gratification, such as reading books or pursuing hobbies that provide long-term benefits.

In conclusion, our capacity for intellectual growth is undeniable, but our ability to prioritize long-term planning over immediate gratification requires conscious effort. By understanding the evolutionary origins of our long-term brains and actively engaging our Acorn Brains, we can overcome our Marshmallow Brains and make better decisions for the future. So, let's embrace the power of reading, connect the dots, and become part-time residents of the future.